THE TRAINING OF PONIES 329 



both to himself and his rider. Besides, in a hustling match, where 

 you are riding an opponent off the ball, weight is bound to tell. 

 That there have been, and are still, many capital small polo 

 ponies is indisputable. I may mention the little chestnut 

 Indian * tattoo ' Blair, got by an Arab sire out of a Deccanee 

 pony mare, the property of Captain K. M'Laren, i3th Hussars,, 

 that only measures 12 hands 3 inches ; the well-known Dick,, 

 formerly the property of Captain F. Herbert ; Major Peters' 

 Dublin, and Mr. F. Mildmay's Judy, only 13 hands 2\ inches ; 

 but ponies such as these stand out by themselves, and, good as 

 they are, are bound to give way when it comes to a trial of 

 strength with bigger and heavier ponies ; nor can they carry 

 weight. 



So far I have endeavoured to point out the course to be 

 pursued by a man who buys a raw pony and trains it himself. 

 Comparatively few men, however, have the time and inclination, 

 to do this ; though should it be done properly the result will 

 be more satisfactory than if the pony be bought second-hand. 

 The reason is not far to seek, and simply resolves itself into 

 the fact that from constantly riding the pony, and having trained 

 him yourself, he not only knows your ways better and is more 

 ready to take a hint from your hands, but that the case is the 

 same with yourself. I have known within my own experience 

 several ponies, that played brilliantly with the man that broke 

 them, fail utterly when they passed into other hands. One 

 pony that was sold two seasons ago for three figures, and that 

 played capitally in its breaker's hands, was sold in disgust by its 

 purchaser for 357., as he said the pony was ' ball shy ' ! This 

 was not the case, however, the fact being that the new owner,, 

 a fair player, did not understand the pony. This is merely one 

 instance of what breaking a pony yourself will do. 



Where money is no object, the problem of getting together 

 a stud of polo ponies is very much simplified ; and a man will 

 find no difficulty in suiting himself with ' trained ' animals. The 

 best time to buy, and the best locality, is after the Cup Matches 

 and Inter-Regimental Tournaments at Hurlingham, and these 



